Veteran sports writer Jim Utter covers NASCAR for The Charlotte Observer and its racing site, ThatsRacin.com. In this space, Jim writes about all things NASCAR and other forms of racing which may also be relevant ... or not.

Thursday, October 10, 2013

NASCAR, team don't condone actions by Travis Kvapil; he returns to car

A day after being released from the Iredell County Jail, NASCAR
driver Travis Kvapil was back in his race car.

Kvapil, 37, was arrested on Tuesday night on and charged with one
count each of assault on a female and false imprisonment stemming from an
altercation with his wife at their Mooresville home.

While he was allowed to participate in practice and qualifying on
Thursday at Charlotte Motor Speedway with his BK Racing team, NASCAR issued a
statement saying it did not condone Kvapil’s actions.

“We are disappointed to learn of this incident. We have been in
close communication with the race team and are in the process of gathering as
much information as possible,” the
statement read.

“NASCAR takes this matter very
seriously and will continue to monitor the situation as it moves forward.”

Kvapil’s next scheduled court date is Nov. 19.

“BK Racing understands the severity of the situation and we don’t
condone the actions that Travis has been accused of,” team co-owner Ron Devine
said in a statement. “We feel it’s important to let the system take its course.

“For that reason, we have elected to support Travis and his
family and keep Travis in the car for this weekend’s race.”